Legislation would make it easier for Kensington to annex property

Town is not currently looking to add land, mayor says

Kensington may explore annexing properties that are already partly within its boundaries if a locally-sponsored bill gets signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

The bill streamlines the referendum and consent procedures a municipality needs to take to annex a property that is already partly in town boundaries. It was sponsored by Del. Al Carr (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington, who was inspired by the Kaiser Permanente Health Care Clinic on Connecticut Avenue, which is partly in and partly out of town boundaries.

"That is what gave me the idea for the bill, because when I was a (town) councilmember I discovered the Kaiser property was not paying any town taxes," Carr said.

The Kaiser property eventually paid back taxes to the town and now has a partial-tax arrangement, said Mayor Peter Fosselman. Fosselman said there are no formal plans to pursue annexation of the property should the bill get signed by O'Malley, but he said the council would look at the possibility.

"It sort of makes things whole, but also the tax base would be a plus," Fosselman said. "I'm over there all the time and it would be really nice to see it in town."

Another property in Kensington, the Kensington Crossing townhomes, falls on the boundary of incorporated Kensington, so some of the townhomes are in and some are out, Carr said.

"You might have a townhouse where the living room is inside the town but the bedroom in back is not, so you can see how that would cause confusion about whether they can vote, what town services they expect," Carr said.

On the list of town priorities, Fosselman said the Kensington Sector Plan and revitalization are superior to any annexation wish lists.